Collapsing device for the third wheel of a golf cart

ABSTRACT

A collapsing device for the third wheel of a golf cart includes a fixing base, a wheel frame, and a pin. The fixing base is U-shaped to form an interior hollow for the sleeve to fit in, having an insert groove respectively in each sidewall. The wheel frame has its bottom assembled with a third wheel, and its top provided with a slide groove at opposite sides and a through hole pivotally combined with the sleeve. The pin is inserted in the slide groove, having both ends protruding out of the slide sleeve and its intermediate portion clasped by a spring, which has its other end connected with a cover member fixedly mounted on the wheel frame. Thus, the plug is pulled by the spring and stuck in the upper or the lower insert groove for stabilizing the third wheel in the collapsed or the expanded condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a collapsing device for the third wheelof a golf cart, particularly to one impossible to increase an originallycollapsed size of a golf cart when it is not used, but capable toenlarge a triangular area on the ground by stretching outward the thirdwheel when the golf cart is expanded for use, enabling a golf cart witha club bag to move comparatively smoothly and steadily.

[0002] In general, a conventional golf cart 1, as shown in FIG. 1, isdesigned to have two wheels moved forward by “pulling” for transportingits club bag. But the way of pulling a golf cart over an uneven golfcourse for a long time will easily render a puller's arm sore, aching ornumb.

[0003] To improve such a defect, a conventional golf cart 1 isadditionally provided with a third wheel 10, as shown in FIG. 2, so thatthe golf cart can not only be pulled but also pushed as well, savinglabor in moving the golf cart back and forth. However, the third wheel10 of such a golf cart 1 is fixedly secured behind the lower tube of thecart frame, therefore the triangular area formed by the three wheels onthe ground is relatively small, easily to cause a golf cart overturnedwhen carrying a club bag and moving on an uneven golf course.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to offer a collapsingdevice for the third wheel of a golf cart, not likely to affect anoriginally collapsed size of a golf cart when it is not used, butcapable to enlarge a triangular area formed by the three wheels on theground when the golf cart is expanded for use and its third wheel isstretched outward in front of the lower tube of the cart, permitting thegolf cart with a club bag to move more smoothly and steadily than aconventional one.

[0005] Another objective of this invention is to offer a a third wheelof a golf cart, which can not only be folded backward but also has afunction of shock absorption, letting the golf cart move with goodsteadiness either by pushing or by pulling when its third wheel isstretched outward and moved on the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] This invention will be better understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf cart:

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional golf cart:

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a golf cart with a firstembodiment of a collapsing device for the third wheel in the presentinvention:

[0010]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment ofthe collapsing device of the third wheel of a golf cart in the presentinvention:

[0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the thirdwheel assembled in the present invention:

[0012]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment ofthe third wheel stretched outward in the present invention:

[0013]FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment ofthe third wheel shifted to be collapsed in the present invention:

[0014]FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment ofthe third wheel in the collapsed condition in the present invention:

[0015]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of acollapsing device for the third wheel of a golf cart in the presentinvention:

[0016]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of thecollapsing device for the third wheel assembled in the presentinvention:

[0017]FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment ofthe third wheel in a shock absorbing condition in the present invention:

[0018]FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment ofthe third wheel in a process of being collapsed and stretched in thepresent invention:

[0019]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a golf cartwith the collapsing device for the third wheel, carrying a club bag inthe present invention:

[0020]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the golf cartwith the collapsing device for the third wheel in the collapsedcondition in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] A first embodiment of a collaapsing device for the third wheel ofa golf cart in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, includes afixing base 30, a sleeve 40, a wheel frame 50 and a plug 60 as maincomponents combined together.

[0022] The fixing base 30 is formed with a U-shaped body having alateral opening. The wall surface facing the opening of the body isprovided with locking holes 32 to be fastened with a lower tube 33 underthe cart frame 50. Each side wall of the fixing base 30 has an upper anda lower insert groove 33, 34 respectively formed at the top and thebottom edge, and a through hole 36 bored in the center portion.

[0023] The sleeve 40 has two pivotal holes 41 respectively provided onopposite sides aligned to the through holes 36 of the fixing base 30.Thus, the sleeve 40 can be fitted in the interior space of the fixingbase 30, as shown in FIG. 6, and can sway freely therein after a bolt 42is inserted through the through holes 36 of the fixing base 30 andfurther through a pivotal holes 41 of the sleeve 40 and then fastenedwith a nut 43. Besides, the sleeve 40 has a sleeve groove 44 formed atthe bottom and two vertical wings 45 respectively provided on oppositesides of the opening of the sleeve groove 44, with each vertical wing 45having a slot 46 in an inner wall.

[0024] The wheel frame 50 has its lower end axially assembled with athird wheel 3 and its upper end provided with a slide groove 51respectively in opposite sides. Then a through hole 52 aligned to thepivotal hole 41 of the sleeve 40 is bored above the slide groove 51 tolet the top end of the wheel frame 50 pivotally assembled with thesleeve groove 44 of the sleeve 40 and moved together.

[0025] The pin 60 is inserted in the slide groove 51 of the wheel frame50, having both ends protruding out of the slide groove 51 and itsintermediate portion connected or hooked with one end of a spring 61 formoving together. The other end of the spring 61 is clasped with thebottom of a cover member 62 mounted fixedly on the top of the wheelframe 50 to let the pin 60 always pulled upward by the spring 61 to pushagainst the upper edge of the slide groove 51, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0026] In handling, as the opposite ends of the pin 60 protrude out ofthe slots 46 of the sleeve 40 and push against the opposite side wallsof the fixing base 30, in case the pin 60 is moved along the side wallsof the fixing base 30 and tightly stuck in the lower insert groove 35 offixing base 30, the third wheel 3 of a golf cart can be stretchedoutward to the largest angle and together with the other two wheelsforms a relatively large triangular area B on the ground (The triangulararea B is much larger than the triangular area A shown in FIG. 2). Atthis time, the spring 61 between the pin 60 and the cover member 62 isin an expanded condition so the pin 60 is stably stuck in the lowergroove 35 of the fixing base 30, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] On the contrary, if the wheel frame 50 is swung backward the pin60 will be disengaged from the lower insert groove 35 of the fixing base30, as shown in FIG. 7, and the spring 61 will not be pulled any more.To fold backward the third wheel 3 of a golf cart, just swing backwardthe wheel frame 50 to let the pin 60 stuck in the upper insert groove 34of the fixing base 30 and the spring 61 become pulled and expanded,equally achieving an effect of folding backward the third wheel 3 withgood stability.

[0028] Further, when the third wheel 3 is folded backward for storing orstretched outward for use, it can also be tightly fastened by means of anut 43 (preferably a triangular one easy to be screwed by hand) and abolt 42 for reinforcing its stability.

[0029] A second embodiment of a folding device for the third wheel of agolf cart in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, includesthe same components as those mentioned in the first embodiment except anadditional shock-absorbing resilient member 70 shaped as an inverted Uand a wheel frame 80.

[0030] The wheel frame 80 is composed of an upper wheel frame 81 and alower wheel frame 82. The lower wheel frame 82 has its lower end axiallyassembled with a third wheel 3 and its upper end fixed with a pair ofconnecting plates 83 to be connected with the upper wheel frame 81. Eachconnecting plate 83 is provided with a slide groove 84 on top end forcontrolling a swaying angle of the lower wheel frame 82.

[0031] In assembling, the shock-absorbing resilient member 70 is fixedastride between the upper wheel frame 81 and the lower wheel frame 82,with both ends pressing down the lower wheel frame 82, as shown in FIG.10. Thus, the third wheel 3 provided with the shock absorbing resilientmember 70 could protect a user's hand from becoming sore or numb whenpushing or pulling a golf cart to move on an uneven ground for a longtime. In addition, the third wheel 3 provided with the shock-absorbingresilient member 70 can also be stretched outward and folded backwardjust as described in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0032] As can be noted from the above description, this invention hasthe following advantages.

[0033] 1. When the third wheel 3 is stretched outward and loaded with aclub bag for use, as shown in FIG. 13, it together with the other twowheels forms a relatively large triangular area B on the ground, asshown in FIG. 3, greatly stabilizing the golf cart when it is pushed orpulled on an uneven ground.

[0034] 2. The third wheel 3 can be collapsed backward when unused, asshown in FIGS. 8 and 10, and so can a whole cart, as shown in FIG. 14,reducing a space for storing and packaging materials for transporting,and economizing cost as well.

[0035] 3. It is possible to stabilize the third wheel 3 whether it isstretched outward for use or collapsed backward for storing. Besides,the design of shock absorption for the third wheel 3 makes a user feelcomparatively comfortable in pushing and pulling a golf cart on anuneven ground.

[0036] While the preferred embodiments have been described above, itwill be recognized and understood that various modifications may be madetherein and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A collapsing device for the third wheel of a golf cartcomprising: A fixing base secured with a bottom end of a lower tube of agolf cart, said fixing base formed with a U-shaped body having abackward opening, said body having each side wall provided with aninsert groove respectively in an upper end and a lower end, with insertgrooves of said two side walls aligned to each other: A sleeve pivotallyfitted in said fixing base and formed with a sleeve groove at thebottom, said sleeve groove having a slot respectively provided atopposite sides of an opening of said sleeve groove: A wheel frame havingits lower end axially assembled with a third wheel and its upper endrespectively provided with a slide groove on opposite sides, a throughhole provided above each said slide groove to be pivotally combined withsaid sleeve, said wheel frame having its top end inserted in said sleevegroove of said sleeve for moving together: A pin inserting in said slidegroove of said wheel frame and having both ends protruding out of saidslide groove, said pin having its intermediate portion clasped by oneend of a spring, said spring having its other end connected with a covermember fixedly mounted on the top of said wheel frame, said pin alwayspulled by said spring to push against the upper edge of said slidegroove: Said third wheel stretched outward and stabilized by said pinstuck in said lower insert groove of said fixing base and pulled by saidspring, said third wheel together with the other two wheels forming alarge triangular area on the ground to let a golf cart have goodstability when carrying and transporting a club bag, said third wheelcollapsed backward and stabilized by said pin stuck in said upper insertgroove of said fixing base and pulled by said spring.
 2. The foldingdevice for the third wheel of a golf cart as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid wheel frame is composed of an upper and a lower wheel frames, saidlower wheel frame having its bottom end axially assembled with saidthird wheel and its top end provided with a pair of connecting membersconnected with said upper wheel frame, said connecting membersrespectively provided with a slide groove for adjusting a sway angle ofsaid lower wheel frame, an inverted U-shaped shock-absorbing resilientmember provided astride between said upper and lower wheel frames andsecured therein, said resilient member having both ends pressing downsaid lower wheel frame, said third wheel with said resilient memberhaving a function of shock absorption when moving on an uneven ground.3. The folding device for the third wheel of a golf cart as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said sleeve is pivotally fitted in said fixing base bymeans of a bolt and a triangular nut facilitating to be screwed by handso as to reinforce the stability of said third wheel when it isstretched outward or collapsed backward.